Comparative Effects of Germfree and Ambient Environments on the Development of Cystic Kidney Disease in CFWwd Mice
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine
Abstract
A spontaneously occurring murine renal cystic disease that resembles human adult-onset polycystic renal disease is described. The disease that develops in CFWwd mice is characterized by multiple bilateral cysts in the kidneys in all affected animals and hepatic cysts in approximately 20% of these animals with disease. Occasional thoracic aortic aneurysms were also observed in animals with cystic disease. The prevalence of the disease appears to be determined by the degree of exposure to the ambient environment. A germfree colony of CFWwd mice only rarely displayed the disease, whereas virtually 100% of animals housed for their entire life in the ambient environment died with the disease. Germfree mice removed from the axenic environment and placed in the ambient environment developed the disease, but at a lower prevalence than those animals born and reared in the ambient environment. Disease prevalence in animals reared in environmentally protected caging was between that in germfree and conventional animals. Genetic studies of AKR mice indicated that the disease is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion but with reduced penetrance.
Publication Date
3-1984
ISSN
0022-2143
Recommended Citation
Werder AA, Amos M, Nielsen AH, Wolfe G. Comparative Effects of Germfree and Ambient Environments on the Development of Cystic Kidney Disease in CFWwd Mice. Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine. 1984; 103(3).
